PCC Courier 10/16/2014

COURIER VOLUME 110 ISSUE 8

The independent student voice of PCC. Serving Pasadena since 1915

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PASADENA CITY COLLEGE

October 16, 2014

EDITORIAL Money isn’t always the answer

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School pays Oscar-winning alum not to sue Philip McCormick Editor-in-Chief

The District paid Oscar-winning alum Dustin Lance Black more than $26,000 so he would not sue the school after top officials rescinded an invitation for him to speak at commencement last May, according to a settlement agreement.

Former school president Mark Rocha signed the settle-

ment agreement that paid Black $26,050 to settle “each and every claim, demand, and cause of action by black” in addition to a $3,000 honorarium on May 8.

Black signed it on May 12, three days after he delivered his commencement speech.

Black had hinted at “legal ramifications” in a letter he sent to the Courier last May after school officials disinvited him from commencement when

they discovered he had been the victim of “revenge porn.”

Interim President Robert Miller and Board President Anthony Fellow declined to comment on when the district decided to settle with Black or when the Board of Trustees approved the settlement. They each sent the same exact response when contacted by the Courier.

“The issue with Mr. Black has been resolved and the district

has no further comment at this time,” Miller and Fellow each wrote in emails.

In the settlement, Black agreed to not disclose the settlement through “oral statements, written statements, emails, Twitter, blogs, Facebook, Tumblr, etc.” Neville Kiser, Black’s assistant, did not return an email requesting comment on this story.

SETTLEMENT page 2

Grab art by the horns

Dustin Lance Black

Report says most campus crime down Daniel Johnson Asst. News Editor

Rayna White/Courier Bulls made out of “upcycled” material featured in the “Luminosity” exhibit were part of the “Light Bringer Project at Day One” at ArtNight in Pasadena on Friday, Oct. 10. ARTNIGHT on Scene.

Newly released crime statistics published in an annual report show downward trends in several categories, most notably in drug violations.

The PCC Police issued the federally mandated Annual Campus Safety Report last week, which details the number of crimes reported to campus police for the past three years.

The report indicates that drug violations fell from 19 in 2012 to just two in 2013, and liquor law offenses dropped from seven down to one in the same period. Police officials said that there has been no change in enforcement policy and attributed the changes to a more visible police presence on campus.

“We’ve been really pounding the beat,” said Interim Police Chief Steven Matchan. “Our officers are walking more on campus. Because we’re out there doing the direct enforcement, people get the hint that [they] can’t do that here.”

Matchan indicated that educating the public about the restrictions of a medical CRIME page 2

Water polo captain shows leadership in and out of the pool David O’Connor Staff Writer

Women’s water polo team captain, Stephanie Velasco isn’t driven by individual awards or statistics. What motivates her is trying to be the best leader in and out of the pool, as well as putting her team’s needs before her own.

It’s this attitude that has massively contributed to Velasco achieving numerous personal highlights in her school water

polo career.

In 2013, opposition coaches in the South Coast conference selected her for the No. 1 all-star team after a lights-out season when she tallied 63 goals and 58 steals. Velasco is also the current leading scorer for PCC with 25 goals after nine games this season. She had a decorated high school career by winning two consecutive CIF championships with Eagle Rock High School and was selected for the all-star team four times.

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I N S I D E

Water polo fell into Velasco’s lap at 12 years of age, courtesy of her mother.

“I didn’t know what water polo was and started playing at Yosemite park pool in Eagle Rock over the summer. My mom found out about a water polo program and she put me in it,” Velasco said. “I was always good at swimming, but I don’t like swim team as much, as it wasn’t interactive because you had to think about things on your own. Doing water polo is more about being in a team, I like being

COLUMBUS Was Columbus a hero or a a conqueror that made a mistake?

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in a team.”

Besides possessing a wide wing span that allows her to tower over her opponents to sling shots at goal, Velasco more importantly cuts the figure of a traffic controller who maneuvers her teammates with her calming presence and cunning strategic ploys.

Fellow sophomore and center-forward Caroline Liu cites Velasco’s VELASCO page 7

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS Honor the dead at the Folk Tree

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NEWS

2 COURIER

London theatre sculpts students’ futures Mick Donovan Online Editor

Students will get the opportunity to travel to London for a week during Spring Break and take in the sights and the culture as part of the Theatre in London program.

On the trip, students will see four plays at the National Theatre in London along with a day trip to the city of Bath, according to English professor Manuel Perea. They won’t be tied down, however, and will have the chance to shop, visit pubs and enjoy the culture.

Perea feels that this is a great trip for students as it strengthens the bonds they share and exposes them to a culture they might not have had the chance to experience before.

“I think any time you travel, you form a strong sense of community,” Perea said. “There’s that bond that you have with people over a shared experience.”

Along with the benefit of a trip to London, students typically bring something back with them that helps sculpt their future.

“Whether it’s coming back here and taking theatre courses, or maybe a new interest in European history,” Perea said.

“Whatever it might be, there’s always something you bring back from those experiences that shape what you do as you move

Courtesy Photo Students pose in front of Stone Henge during the 2010 Study Abroad trip.

forward.”

One student, on a trip to Ashland, Oregon, was so inspired he took up acting when he returned.

“One year, when we went to Ashland, we took a student who, he didn’t have any acting experience, but he was so moved by what went on on the stage and what he observed that when we came back he started enrolling in acting classes and now he’s working in small theatre here and there,” Perea said.

Professor Otilio Perales notes that being able to see another part of the world and culture is just as great to walk away with.

“What I think is valuable is the experience of being in a

different country, experiencing a new culture...I think they become cosmopolitan, because they encounter new ideas and way of living, a new geography,” Perales said. “So I think all those things shape their idea, because all they know is, for most of them, L.A.” Anyone in the community may attend but whoever does go must enroll in the one-unit repeatable course.

“Everyone who goes on the trip…does need to enroll at PCC. [But] it’s more about the trip and the experience [than credits],” English professor Brian Adler said.

The trip is slated for March 7 to March 15 next year.

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

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October 16, 2014

Police Blotter Monday, October 6 A solar umbrella sustained damage after being backed into by a truck near the bungalows around 8 a.m.

The Community Education Center suffered a campus-wide power outage shortly after 9 a.m.

The outage lasted approximately 20 minutes.

Tuesday, October 7 A man was spotted washing himself with a fire hydrant just north of the L building around 3 p.m. He reportedly left the area after soiling himself and contaminating the hydrant.

Wednesday, October 8 Shortly before 11 a.m, a student reported that a man followed her from the Quad and approached her in the library.

Thursday, October 9 A staff member in the R building needed minor medical attention after injuring her finger in a door around 4 p.m.

A man was reportedly gratifying himself in a CC building men’s room around 5 p.m. Although the man was gone when

SETTLEMENT

Continued from page 1

Academic Senate President Eduardo Cairo said that it was appalling that the board paid out that much taxpayer money to cover up a mistake they had made.

“There was no transparency during this process,” Cairo said.

“If you have a roach in your house, you probably have others.

So if this problem was there, I’m sure there are other problems that we are just not aware of yet.

It’s a total lack of transparency.”

The school had initially decided against selecting the Oscar winning screenwriter because they feared sexually explicit pho-

CRIME

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marijuana card has also helped lower the figure by reducing the number of people who mistakenly think they are allowed to smoke on school grounds.

“Just because you have a medical marijuana card doesn’t mean it’s a ‘smoke wherever you want’ card,” he said.

Earlier this year the Violence Against Women Act was amended to include a requirement to report statistics on domestic or dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. However, since the updated law was signed in March 2013, the requirement does not take effect until next year’s report, which will contain statistics from 2012 to 2014.

“This year’s statistics, because they just brought [new requirements] into play a month ago, it’s not something we were counting on keeping,” said Sgt. Bill Abernathie. “It’s not something we track because we weren’t required to until this time.”

“The federal government

police arrived, his attitude was described by witnesses as “bad.”

Friday, October 10 A woman was taken to the hospital after suffering a cut above her eye from a plastic dolly handle near the President’s office around 2 p.m.

Pasadena PD detained an intoxicated woman after she was reportedly acting unstable at the Community Education Center around 7 p.m. The woman was eventually released to her parents.

Sunday, October 12 Campus police contacted staff member Gary Abraham after they found that he was working in three classrooms in the Science Village with three non-students just before midnight.

Abraham reportedly has a history of working in Science Village classrooms late at night without notifying anyone, and was told by police to notify the dispatcher when he opens a classroom and when he leaves the area.

Compiled by Daniel Johnson tos of Black that surfaced on the Internet in 2009 would tarnish the school’s reputation.

The photos had been leaked from a sex video that Black’s former boyfriend had stolen from him. Black won a lawsuit against the website that had released the photos.

Rocha later called Black and apologized for the college’s mishandling of the situation, according to a press release put out by the school in May. “The Board of Trustees and college administration deeply respect Mr. Black, his work and his causes,” the release stated. “The Board also sincerely apologizes to Mr. Black for any actions that may have caused hurt.” would not take the stats this year anyway, they don’t want them till next year,” he added.

There have been four reports of stalking, two of harassment and one sexual battery on school grounds or nearby since the beginning of September, according to police activity logs.

Thefts rose last year, with 12 robberies and burglaries reported, up from five the previous year.

These include thefts from cars, a problem Abernathie said students and staff can take steps to avoid.

“If you have to store stuff in your vehicle, put it in the trunk,” said Abernathie. “If you leave your laptop or phone in plain sight on the front seat, plan on it not being there when you return.”

Overall, Matchan credits the entire PCC community for the positive safety trends shown in the report.

“It takes a tribe to police a campus,” he said. “When we get numbers like these, everyone deserves to take credit.”

OPINION

October 16, 2014

Courier 2012 JACC General Excellence Award-Winner Editor-in-Chief Philip McCormick Online Editor Mick Donovan News Editor Paul Ochoa Asst. News Editor Daniel Johnson Opinion Editor Justin Clay Features Editor Kristen Luna A&E Editor Samantha Molina Lifestyle Editor Monique LeBleu

PCC mishandles problems and funds PCC has paid Dustin Lance Black close to $26,000 to not take legal action against the institution after Black was disinvited to be the commencement speaker back in May. Black’s invitation EDITORIAL was rescinded after school officials learned of a stolen sex tape featuring the Oscar winner. School officials feared that having Black speak at commencement would hurt the school’s reputation.

Nearly $26,000 is a lot of mon-

ey to shell out in order to avoid bad publicity. Black hinted in an open letter to the school that he might take legal action against the college, but no official case was ever brought forward.

PCC’s method of dealing with potential problems has to be better than simply throwing money at it.

At this point, it appears that the school is paying “hush money” in order to cover its tracks after the debacle that was “Commencement-Gate 2014.”

VOICES: Do you think Columbus Day should still be considered a holiday?

Sports Editor Daron Grandberry Photo Editor Nagisa Mihara Chief Photographer Concepcion Gonzalez Online Photo Editor Daniel Valencia Scene Editor Charles Winners Staff Writers: Ahmad Akkaoui, Reina Aldape, Daniel Axume, Dezarae Balbas, Joey Calderon Guzman, Hannah Gonzales, David Grubaugh, Tiffany Herrera, Matthew Kiewiet, Anthony Martinez, David O’Connor, Ashley Park, Sho Tanaka

Staff Photographers: Justin Clay, Keely Ernst, Ansis Hoheisel, Erica Hong, Ryan Kevin, Chris Martinez, Daniel Nerio, Paul Ochoa, Kevin Peraza, Scott Spencer, Ian Tomlin, Daniel Vega-Warholy, Saul Villegas, Rayna White Faculty Adviser

“No. Everything we were taught about Columbus Day in school and the reason we celebrate it is false. It was actually just murder.”

Cassidy Hudson, Child Development

“I don’t think it should be a holiday because truthfully he isn’t a person to be celebrated. But if it’s going to be a holiday, it should be a paid holiday for work purposes.”

Crystal Yniquez, Film

“It’s a holiday. You finish your papers, school work. A time to study.”

Trayvon Ross, Kinesiology

“No. Because he was the catalyst to a lot of genocide towards Native American culture so I don’t think it’s appropriate to celebrate.”

Priscilla Vo, Legal Studies

Photo Adviser Tim Berger Advertising Manager Daniel Nerio

“It’s an historical event. He’s one of the first guys from [Spain] to come. I don’t know.

Why not, it’s a historical event.”

Christian Jaramillo, Psychology

“I don’t celebrate it because I believe he invaded America...

Not only because I am Mexican American and how the Spaniards killed the Aztecs.”

Oscar Hernandez, Mechanical Engineering

“I don’t happen to be a proponent of Columbus Day. The rape, pillage and all of the extraordinary things that went on during his invasion.”

Mary Hyde, Nursing

“Yes. Because, I don’t know.

We just should.”

Beatrice Sanchez, Criminal Justice

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One thing to take into account is that if this case were to actually go to trial, the $26,000 that they paid Black would look like pocket change compared to the legal fees that would come from a full fledged lawsuit.

Could it be that the money spent is some sort of reparations for the inconvenience caused by the commencement situation?

Black had to cancel appointments and rearrange his schedule multiple times in order to speak at the commencement ceremony.

Reporting and Photos by: Nagisa Mihara

At the same time, that’s $26,000 that could have gone to serving students rather than cleaning up the publicity problems of the administration.

If the administration handled the situation correctly when it first arose, they would have avoided the subsequent bad situations that arose as a result.

We hate to see that the tuition money of PCC’s roughly 29,000 students spent fixing the PR messes of the Board and other organizations on campus.

Is Columbus a figure who should still be celebrated?

Paul Ochoa Staff Writer

This past Monday was Columbus Day, a federal holiday in the United States which marks the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s coming to the Americas. In recent YES years, the holiday has come under attack because of Columbus’s somewhat controversial status. Because of his ill treatment of the native peoples he encountered and the fact that he was beat to the Americas by the Vikings, opponents of the holiday say that they either change the name or don’t recognize it altogether.

The problem with that is that in this world things are hardly ever black or white. The fact that this country recognizes July 4, 1776 as its independence day when slavery wasn’t abolished until 1865, women didn’t have the right to vote until 1920 and Jim Crow laws were done away with in 1965 just goes to show this. Nothing in history is ever perfect but that doesn’t mean it deserves to be erased.

So what if Columbus didn’t discover the Americas, his coming to the continent was the start of EuroHannah Gonzales Staff Writer

Nathan McIntire

The Courier is published weekly by the Pasadena City College Journalism Department and is a free-speech forum. Editorials and comments are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of the institution and its administration, student government or that of the Pasadena Area Community College District.

COURIER 3

Christopher Columbus has long been lauded as a national hero for discovering America. In schools across the United States, schoolchildren learn about his voyage to America and his subsequent unearthing of riches. In fact, the whole nation celebrates this discovery NO with Columbus Day. Recently, however, the Seattle School Board decided to do away with this holiday and replace it with the more appropriate Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Seattle is not the first city to reinvent the controversial Columbus Day. In Hawaii the holiday is known as Discoverers Day and in South Dakota it’s celebrated as Native Americans’ Day. The controversy surrounding Columbus Day starts with the fact that Columbus was not the first person to discover America.

In fact he never stepped foot in what is now the United States, although on his third expedition to the New World he did locate South America.

So why do we still celebrate Columbus Day if his legacy includes the colonization of the Bahamas and

pean connection with the Americas.

This means that had it not been for Columbus who knows if the United States as we know it today would have even existed.

It is a mistake to try and look at ones point of views through the eyes of someone not only from a different culture but a different time period as well. It is not fair to hold Columbus to the standards of today and by doing so trying to discredit and delete him from history.

While we can agree that what Columbus did to the Native Americans he encountered was terrible and horrendous, the plain and simple fact is that none of us would be here right now had he not done it. With almost every great and celebrated event in history there has always been something awful done to accomplish it.

If we are going to get rid of Columbus Day then we should get rid of every holiday that involved any sort of nastiness. History is not perfect and neither are most of the figures and events in it. But those people and events shaped the world we live in today and they deserve to be recognized and their days observed. the enslavement of the indigenous populations?

Due to the efforts of Columbus’s children to clear his name of any wrongdoings, he came to be viewed as a hero years after his death. In 1937, Franklin D. Roosevelt announced Columbus Day as a national holiday after the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic organization, petitioned to have a day to celebrate Columbus.

Yes, Columbus did make progress in navigation and trade between Europe and the Americas, but he was also responsible for the inhumane treatment of the indigenous population, which included forcing tribes to work hard labor and cutting off hands for those that didn’t meet their quota.

Not to mention the diseases that Columbus and his men brought with them, such as smallpox, that quickly reduced populations.

Regardless of the name, dedicating a day to a man who committed atrocities and left a painful mark on a population that still faces poverty and discrimination is in bad taste.

It only highlights the efforts that the nation still has to make to eradicate racial discrimination and to bring to light the true legacy of Christopher Columbus.

SCE

4 COURIER Daniel Nerio/Courier Music group MUSE/ IQUE performing during Artnight at the Levitt Pavilion at Memorial Park.

Concepcion Gonzalez/Courier John Kildduff, also know as Mr. Let’s Paint, paints “Artnight Census” by the Center of the arts building.

Concepcion Gonzalez/Courier Performers sing different melodies from musicals at Pasadena City Hall.

Samantha Molina Staff Writer

Concepcion Gonzalez/Courier Pasadena City Hall gets lit up with different colors during ArtNight.

The Center for the Arts was a hub for all things art including painting, music and theater a part of Pasadena ArtNight on Friday, Oct. 9.

The night was filled will musical performances from the “Strings Attached” jazz band and theatrical performances from the cast of the One-Acts Production of Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors.”

Special guest John Kilduff, also known as Mr. Let’s Paint, was also on campus to create a large painting documenting every person that comes through ArtNight at PCC. The “ArtNight Census” allowed attendants to be a part of PCC history.

“I really enjoyed watching him work and getting to see myself in the painting,” student Michael Flores said.

The school did not get to keep the painting but did get the opportunity to participate and be in a memorable piece of art.

ENE

October 16, 2014

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Daniel Nerio/Courier Cast members from PCC’s “The Doctor in Spite of Himself” performed in front of the Center for the Arts on Artnight.

Concepcion Gonzalez/Courier Visitors look at Frogtown Salo(o)n, part of the Big City Forum exhibition at the Armory during ArtNight.

Tiffany Yip/Courier Patrons attend ArtNight at USC’s Pacific Asia Museum on Friday.

Video highlights from “Let’s Paint TV,” Kilduff ’s internet-based TV show, were shown inside room 101 in the Center for the Arts.

“Mr. Let’s Paint is an artist who keeps painting in the face of obstacles and distractions,” gallery director Brian Tucker said. “On his TV show, he might, for example, paint while cooking a meal, exercising on a treadmill, switching between various cameras and fielding phone calls from viewers.”

The faculty art exhibition “Conference Center” continued its run in the Boone Family Art Gallery during ArtNight. Students were able to see works created by their professors.

“Seeing the work of the professors on campus was inspiring to me,” student Elizabeth Brown said.

As one of twenty ArtNight exhibits, the Boone Family Art Gallery attracted many attendants.

“We got a good response at the gallery, I was very pleased,” Joseph Futtner, associate dean of the school of visual, media and performing arts, said. “It was part art exhibit and part performances.

Tiffany Yip/Courier Patrons attend ArtNight at USC’s Pacific Asia Museum.

LIFESTYLE

6 COURIER

October 16, 2014

As walking art, patrons take it to the Side Street Ashley Park Staff Writer

Art-centered non-profit organizations Side Street Projects and Freewaves came together for ArtNight Pasadena to create an interactive event meant to challenge people to interpret the meaning behind public art and current events.

Side Street Projects, a Pasadena-based organization, and Freewaves, a Hollywood-based organization, may have different missions, but they have often collaborated for the past 20 years.

“Side Street Projects’ mission is to give artists of all ages the ability and means to support their creative endeavors, “said Emily Hopkins, the executive director of Side Street Projects.

“So basically, we teach artists how to roll up their sleeves and do things themselves… We present projects with artists who of-

ten operate outside of the gallery system and work in communities, instead of galleries. We also have youth programs to teach children about art.”

Freewaves has a similarly unorthodox approach.

“Freewaves tries to bring artists and the public together, not in a gallery, but in a non-conventional platform. And we try to start a dialogue about culture and art that you don’t see in the mainstream media,” said Cindy Rozas, a Freewaves representative.

The two different organizations were especially excited for their ArtNight Pasadena collaboration because it was one of their more unique projects that asked an important question: “How can art change the world today?”

The interactive public work exploring current attitudes toward art and world events consisted of artists’ videos being looped and projected onto the surfaces of Side Street Projects and the

attendees as well.

The videos displayed, which consisted of busy freeways, people dancing on the sidewalk, and even a short animation film, were all specifically curated by Anne Bray, the executive director of Freewaves.

“These videos weren’t chosen randomly,” said Rozas. “All these videos are questioning something… We want to create some thought and get a conversation going. We are interested in how art can be interpreted.”

“We are interested in artists who use dialogue to address important problems like social justice issues,” added Hopkins.

“Dialogue keeps ideas flowing.”

Therefore, to keep the dialogue going, it only made sense that a portion of the project was web-based on Twitter, encouraging people to tweet with the hashtag #questiontheprojection.

“It’s different for us, but we felt like we could reach more people by using Twitter,” said

Daniel Nerio/Courier Odyssey, a film by Zig Gron, projected on an abandoned house at Side Street Projects for Artnight Pasadena on Friday.

Rozas. “The Internet has such a big presence, it was a way to include others who couldn’t come to [ArtNight Pasadena] to still feel included and interact with attendees and artists… We want to continue to expand the

platform for artists.”

Side Street Projects will be hosting a Masquerade Fundraising Ball on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014.

To get involved, visit www. sidestreet.org/masquerade.

Folk art exhibit a prelude to Dia De Los Muertos Reina Aldape Staff Writer

With Halloween right around the corner, when’s a better time than now to pay homage to the dead?

Now through Nov. 2, The Folk Tree in Pasadena is hosting its annual Day of the Dead Altars and Ephemera exhibition.

For 31 years Rocky Behr, the owner of The Folk Tree, has hosted the Day of the Dead exhibit commemorating the Mexican Holiday Día De Los Muertos.

The exhibit located in the far back room of the store features a variety of artwork by 42 different local artists. The room is filled with paintings, sculptures, hand carved jewelry boxes, head scarfs and altars, all displayed with a mix of vibrant and dark colors honoring the deceased.

Here patrons can take a look at the “Altar to the Holy Trinity of the 27 CLUB,” an altar paying homage to Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison. This display features portraits and huge records of the three musicians on the wall. Right below, a table is designed with items like candles, DEATH tarot cards, Janis Joplin’s “PEARL” album and a book of poetry by Jim Morrison titled “The Lords and the New Creatures.” Matt DeHaven, the artist

Rayna White/Courier “Bump” shown by Alek Talevich is at the Folk Tree in Pasadena. The art and the alters will be on display from Oct. 1 to Nov. 2.

of this altar, does not sell any of his workit is simply for display in the exhibit.

A large gold mosaic skull is covered in dark beads and jewels and equipped with huge porcelain teeth that look like Chiclets. A couple smaller mosaic skulls sit beside the golden one and another is covered in white mosaics and beautiful

hues of blue, orange and red.

The other is a clay skull darker than night, painted all black with a matte finish and covered in black maggots and bugs.

This artist Mary Clark-Camargo teaches mosaic classes in the area. Two of her mosaic skulls were not on the display because they were being used for a television

production.

Mexican blankets, flowers, banners, candles, and artwork fill every wall, every corner, every altar. Peppermint candies and chocolate kisses are up for grabs in certain altars, giving patrons a taste of the favorite candy of the dead.

A couple altars offer onlookers participation, equipped with tiny pieces of scrap paper patrons are allowed to write down a little message for a certain loved one they wish to honor.

Many artists created altars that pay homage to loved ones who have passed, real photographs, possessions and letters from those deceased are on display.

The artists will be at the exhibit on Nov. 1 and patrons will get a chance to talk to the artists, chat up other onlookers over refreshments and even get their face painted. In past years there has been live music and folklorico groups performing at the exhibit.

The Folk Tree is located a few blocks off of Old Town Pasadena across from the Central Park and carries a collection of Mexican Folk Art the owner has collected from shop tours and traveling the globe. Admission to the exhibit is free.

Meat lovers restaurant lets you look and gets you hooked Dezarae Balbas Staff Writer

The Meat District Co. offers a unique dining experience where guests can witness fresh, natural meat being grinded and watch chefs prepare meals through an open kitchen.

The Australian-based restaurant, located on Raymond Street in Old Town Pasadena, is the company’s first location to open in the United States.

Since their grand opening about a month ago, supervisor Ennovy Rubio said they have been successful in luring meat-lovers.

“We get very busy on the weekends,” Rubio said. “It’s been really good.”

In the middle of the restaurant stands a glass walk-in fridge

where chefs store the meat and customers can witness the cutting and grinding process.

The kitchen, which cannot be missed, has open windows to provide live cooking action for customers as well and there is another back room and downstairs area for extra seating.

Last weekend, the restaurant hosted its first Friday and Saturday DJ Night, where one of the servers brought her equipment to work and played music for customers in the back room.

“It was so much fun, they (guests) really enjoyed it,” said Rubio.

Rubio said they will continue DJ Night on the weekends to draw in more customers.

The meat-centric restaurant is prestigiously known for their fresh, all natural beef which is

aged in-house for at least 21 days and finished with a gluten-free baste.

The choice of meat entrée that stands above all else is the Meat Hook, 10 ounces of succulent chunks of prime dry-aged New York sirloin, rib eye and filet with peppers, onions and corn lathered in a creamy pepper sauce suspended on a hook.

Supervisor Sallon Gomesz said that is the most popular dish on their menu.

“Try us and get hooked,” Gomesz joked.

Along with burgers, steak and ribs, innovative appetizers like the Crispy Jalapeno Poppers, jalapenos fried in cornflake crumbs and served in a ramekin of yogurt are also included on the menu.

Vegetarians, too, can enjoy

the restaurant and choose from items like the Crispy Quinoa Salad or the Vegetarian Burger.

But their menu does not end there.

The Street hotdog, slow roasted lamb and pork pulls, salmon burger and chicken sandwich provide a wide variety for customers to choose from.

Justin Clay/Courier Meat hangs in the open freezer at The Meat District Co. in Pasadena, a unique eatery that allows customers to watch fresh meat being prepared in an open kitchen, on Wednesday.

LIFESTYLE

October 16, 2014

COURIER

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Autistic student strives for independence Kristen Luna Features Editor

The day after his high school graduation, a young man left his foster home and headed for Monrovia to reside with his grandmother. A day he had been waiting for, for the past five years.

PCC student Aaron Jackson, 25, grew up in Milpitas. During his childhood, Jackson was diagnosed with autism with a minor learning disability.

Throughout Jackson’s youth, his parents were repeatedly put away due to their severe drug habits. And when Jackson was 14 years old, the state was forced to remove him from his parents and place him into a foster home.

“Well, I kind of have to say that it was a learning experience and a growth experience to really know my resiliency and how much character I have,” Jackson said. “Because I have never been this far away from the people I’ve loved before in this capacity.”

Living in the foster home was very challenging for him, as the state would not allow him to move in with his grandmother early on given that his aunt, who had her own drug problems, was living with her.

Jackson’s grandmother and aunt had lived with him during his childhood but they both relocated to Monrovia to take care of his ailing great-grandmother. With both his parents in jail and no family nearby to help

Daniel Valencia/Courier Aaron Jackson sits in between the U building and the library on Oct.10

him, Jackson had to rely on his own strength to get him through.

“It was kind of a blessing really when I think about it more and more,” Jackson said. “That this might have been the right situation to guide me through life at that period of time. My family at that time was still really dysfunctional.”

When he was finally able to live and reconnect with his grandmother, Jackson was excited about furthering his education.

In fall of 2009, Jackson started his journey at PCC and became a broadcast journalism

student.

“I originally liked sports but I’m not physically gifted to play sports, I realize that,” Jackson said. “So this is something I wanted to get into because it involved sports, that was my first thought. But I really grew into liking news and working in television production as well” Jackson credits the disabled student program and services for helping him with his positive experience here, as well as Bianca Richards and Rosemary Scott—the two counselors who have worked with him along the way.

“They have really helped me out as far as which courses I need to take and what educational path that I need to take overall,” Jackson said.

Rosemary Scott, a speech pathologist, first met Jackson in 2009 and remembers him initially as “hesitant, unsure and insecure but [he] always knew that he wanted to be in broadcast journalism.”

Scott worked with Jackson a lot inside and outside of the classroom. In spring of 2010, Jackson took SPEECH 120 (which is no longer offered) with Scott, where she would regularly videotape Aaron presenting in class.

“Aaron is a great example of diligence and hard work and an open “can-do” attitude,” Scott said.” I have always told my students, ‘Attitude is the real disability.’

Aaron has taken his skills and talents and

made it work. He is an inspiration to other students.”

Individuals diagnosed with autism are often characterized by a difficulty with social interaction. In spite of this, Jackson has loved his time spent in his broadcast journalism and TVR classes.

“Generally, I’m probably someone who would prefer to work on solo assignments but I’ve really enjoyed working with others on projects and working on projects with others on our own time,” said Jackson.

Currently, Jackson is still living with his grandmother, alongside his mother and uncle. Now that he is reconnected with his mother, Jackson is enjoying rebuilding their relationship but longs to claim his independence.

“Unfortunately, I still might cling onto my mother too much and be dependent on her,” Jackson said. “Hopefully I can develop more and become more independent from the needs of my mother because she has to take me to and from places so maybe I can break away from that at some point.”

With studies showing that those with autism are less likely to live independent lives, there are some who are successful and Jackson hopes to be one of them.

“Hopefully, I’m working at a job I love and hopefully in Great Britain…either in broadcast journalism or work in television production…and hopefully a family to provide for over there,” he said.

Latino voices heard in new Lancer Radio show Anthony Martinez Staff Writer

A new Latino-centric Lancer Radio talk show seeks to raise awareness within the Latino community by discussing crucial issues such as immigration and education.

Inspired by National Public Radio’s Latino USA, David Rodriguez created and hosts Latino L.A., a podcast that focuses on the Latino experience in Los Angeles.

“I wanted to bring awareness [to] some things that not only affect me but everyone in the community,” said Rodriguez. “I’ve been in the Lancer Radio program for a while now and there hasn’t been a show or anything about Latinos since I’ve been here and I’ve pointed it out to some people.

[They’ve] been on board to join

VELASCO

Concepcion Gonzalez/Courier David Rodriguez, the host of Latino L.A. for Lancer Radio, in the LL Building on Wednesday.

me but for right now it’s just me finding people to interview and talk about some issues,” he said.

In his first episode, Rodriguez talked with Mary Mazzio, director of “Underwater Dreams,” which follows a group of Arizona high school students competing in a robotics competition who beat the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) ten years ago.

“They had the potential to pursue their interest in engineering but they couldn’t because they didn’t have the papers,” said Rodriguez about the Arizona students. “And that’s something I feel the Latino community connects a lot with.

I feel that immigration is really important; immigration reform, that is. [It’s] really important for Latinos.”

for connecting her daughter to water polo but above all, instilled Continued from page 1 in her the discipline and life skills to successfully juggle water polo perceptiveness as her biggest with school obligations. strength.

“My mom’s been the one push“What makes Stephanie a ing me to do water polo over and special player is her ability to assess over. If she didn’t introduce me to the situation in the water and how water polo, I wouldn’t be where I she has her eye on other people am now without her,” Velasco said. on where to go and how to play,” Although Velasco cherishes indiLiu said. vidual accolades, what means more It’s Velasco’s invaluable experito her is the leadership opportunience and nurturing approach that ties and lessons she gains from her enables her allies to reach their Concepcion Gonzalez/Courier water polo career. Ever since her potential.

Stephanie Velasco in the pool. mother introduced her to the sport “In the pool I tend to direct of water polo, it has been more people where to go, what to do captain has on the team. than a sporting career to Velasco. and helping my teammates out is “I’ve learnt a lot from her, she’s It’s been a classroom in the water. my biggest thing,” Velasco said. taught me to defend and what to “Water polo has definitely got Sophomore and goalie Alelook out for. Stephanie creates a me to understand people and noush Aslanian’s own game has friendly environment and she is interact with them, usually in water improved a great deal under Velas- the perfect leader for us because polo I have a leadership goal and co’s mentorship. Aslanian has the she communicates really well and in other classes I tend to be the best vantage point in the pool to is reassuring,” Aslanian said. observe what kind of impact her Velasco’s mother is responsible leader of the group,” Velasco said.

Over the summer, Rodriguez attended a conference by the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), “the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States” according to its website.

“I went to the NCLR in July and it was a conference where they brought up a lot of these issues.

Immigration came up…education got brought up a lot…and that’s something I wanted to share with the community,” he said.

Due to Rodriguez’s hectic schedule, only one episode is available for listening so far. Regardless, Rodriguez always perseveres, according to classmate and friend Gina Harris.

“Being in school, sometimes we

have the tendency to…overbook ourselves a little bit, but David always comes through,” said Harris.

“He’s very dedicated to the show, or whatever [project] he’s working on…he’s awesome. Anything that you ask him to do, he does it, and he does it exceptionally well.”

Upcoming episodes are still in the works, with hopes of interviewing journalist, filmmaker and Define American campaign founder Jose Antonio Vargas, an East L.A. band, Las Cafeteras, and coverage of Día de los Muertos events around Pasadena. The next two episodes are set to come out in late October.

Episode downloads are available through the show’s archive on the Lancer Radio website.

8

SPORTS

COURIER

October 16, 2014

Struggles continue for women’s water polo

Daniel Valencia/Courier Sharon Perez, sophomore, attempts to shoot the ball but misses at the PCC Aquatic Center on Wednesday. The women’s water polo team lost to Cerritos 16-4.

Paul Ochoa Staff Writer

The women’s water polo team suffered a crushing 16-4 defeat at the hands of the Cerritos Falcons on Wednesday afternoon.

The Lancers were unable to respond to Cerrito’s barrage of goals with the first half of the game ending, which ended 11-1

in the Falcons’ favor. It wasn’t until the second half when they switched sophomore goalie Sharon Perez and put her in the pool that the Lancers began to step up their game.

“The second half was all the starters and we definitely know how to play with each other a lot better than the [substitutes],” said Perez. “I also need to learn

to not be afraid of the ball when playing goalie.”

Coach Terry Stoddard says part of the reason for the devastating loss was the injury of two starting players.

“Our goalie is out with a concussion and we lost a player on Saturday to a concussion as well,” said Stoddard. “It takes the chemistry away.”

Cerritos’ sophomores Carla Harvey and Celeste Ibarra single handedly dominated the Lancers, scoring 12 goals between the two. Harvey had seven and Ibarra added five.

Sophomore Stephanie Velasco said the reason Harvey was able to dominate the Lancers so easily was because of the bad chemistry in the water.

“Whenever I saw [Harvey] she had one of our least experienced players covering her,” said Velasco.

As for what they need to do to prepare for their next game, Perez says the substitutes need to step it up.

“They need to step it up but I have faith in them that they will,” said Perez.

Volleyball snaps losing streak with first victory against ELAC Daron Grandberry Sports Editor

The Lancers’ volleyball team snapped a 9-match losing streak Friday with a home victory over East Los Angeles College.

With a more relaxed and patient offense, the Lancers were noticeably improved in their first victory of the season, winning in four sets, 25-20, 25-18, 16-25 and 25-19.

With the victory, the Lancers (1-9 overall) improved to 1-2 in conference play, while ELAC (7-7 overall) fell to 1-2.

“Getting our first victory was very important,” freshman outside hitter Lahiz Longobardi said. “We have to continue to play hard and give everything we have in practice and improve our technique. The time we spend together as a team is very important.”

Longobardi, the Brazilian native and athletic hitter, led PCC on Friday with 17 kills and 10

digs, her first double-double of the season.

Against ELAC, freshman middle hitter Chy’annea Hodges was instrumental in helping the Longobardi and the Lancers secure their first victory of the 2014 season. In arguably the best game of her young career, Hodges recorded 15 kills and three blocks to give the Lancers a much needed balanced attack.

“She’s our best athlete, and tonight she hit the ball extremely hard, dominating East LA’s play around the net,” head coach Bill Sanchez said.

In her first season playing competitive volleyball, Hodges has shown noticeable improvements in all areas of the game and has become a nice complement to Longobardi.

“She’s [Hodges’] doing a better job on tipping and using her leaping ability,” Sanchez said.

“For someone who never played the sport, she’s come a long way in a short time.”

Although it took PCC 10 attempts to win their first game of the season, the Lancers are eager to get back on the court and improve.

“We have to continue to push each other and communicate,”

freshman right setter Hailey Abdul-Malik said. “We worked hard to get our first victory and I know this team is capable and deserving of much more. We play so much better when we’re patient and playing together as a

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Nagisa Mihara/Courier Lancers’ outside hitter Lahiz Longobardi spikes the ball against ELAC on Friday. Longobardi led the Lancers with 17 kills and 10 digs.

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Transfer setter Megan Williams recorded a game-high 39 assists for the Lancers, while freshman outside hitter Michelle Boyd added five aces, four kills and eight digs.

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